Here's what it costs to open a McDonald's restaurant (MCD)

Hayley Peterson

May 6, 2019 6:46 PM

McDonald's franchisees must make an initial investment of between $1 million and $2.2 million.

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McDonald's charges a $45,000 franchisee fee and an ongoing monthly service fee equal to 4% of gross sales.
Franchisees must also pay rent to the company, which is a percentage of monthly sales.

Owning a McDonald's franchise can be a lucrative business, but it requires a lot of cash.

The average McDonald's restaurant generates nearly $2.7 million in annual sales, making it the fourth-highest-grossing chain in the US by sales per unit behind Chick-fil-A, Whataburger, and Panera Bread, according to QSR magazine .

But to open a single restaurant, the company requires that potential franchisees have liquid assets of at least $500,000.

Startup costs, which include construction and equipment expenses, average between $1 million and $2.2 million, according to McDonald's . The total is determined by the geography and size of the restaurant, as well as by the selection of kitchen equipment, signage, style of decor, and landscaping, the company says.

Franchisees must pay 40% of the startup costs with cash and other non-borrowed resources, while the rest can be financed.

In addition to those costs, McDonald's charges a $45,000 franchisee fee and an ongoing monthly service fee equal to 4% of gross sales. Franchisees must also pay rent to the company, which is a percentage of monthly sales.

Franchisees pay an average of 10.7% of sales in rent costs, according to the Service Employees International Union .

McDonald's franchisee startup costs are similar to those of KFC, Wendy's, and Taco Bell.

Subway, by comparison, is far less expensive, costing between $116,000 and $263,000, according to the company.